Dock system

Abstract

There is provided a dock having a pair of primary frame members and a pair of secondary frame members. The primary and secondary frame members are formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material. The primary frame members extend parallel to a primary axis and are arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other. Likewise, the secondary frame members extend parallel to a secondary axis and are arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other. Each secondary frame member is connected to the pair of primary frame members. The dock also includes a plurality of cross members. Each cross member is connected to and extends between the pair of primary frame members. Each cross member includes an upper platform contact face disposed within a common upper platform contact plane.

1. A dock comprising:
 a pair of primary frame members formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, each primary frame member defining a primary lower edge and a primary upper edge, the pair of primary frame members extending parallel to a primary axis and arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other; 
 a pair of secondary frame members formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, each secondary frame member defining a secondary lower edge and a secondary upper edge, the pair of secondary frame members extending parallel to a secondary axis and arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other, each secondary frame member being connected to the pair of primary frame members; 
 a plurality of cross members, each cross member connected to and extending between the pair of primary frame members, each cross member including an upper platform contact face disposed within a common upper platform contact plane; 
 a plurality of joint supports, each joint support having a primary joint face connected to one of the pair of primary frame members and a secondary joint face connected to one of the pair of secondary frame members, the primary joint face substantially extending from the primary lower edge to the primary upper edge of the respective one of the pair of primary frame members, the secondary joint face substantially extending from the secondary lower edge to the secondary upper edge of the respective one of the pair of secondary frame members, each joint support including a plurality of flow channels extending through the primary joint face and the secondary joint face; and 
 an adhesive disposed between each joint support and the respective primary and secondary frame members, the adhesive being disposed within at least one of the plurality of flow channels for connecting each joint support to the respective primary and secondary frame members. 
 
   
   
     2. The dock as recited in  claim 1  further including an upper platform formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, the upper platform having an upper walking portion and a lower contact surface disposed in contact with each upper platform contact face. 
   
   
     3. The dock as recited in  claim 2  wherein the upper platform is connected to each upper platform contact face via a mechanical fastener. 
   
   
     4. The dock as recited in  claim 3  wherein the mechanical fastener is double backed adhesive tape. 
   
   
     5. The dock as recited in  claim 3  wherein the mechanical fastener is an adhesive. 
   
   
     6. The dock as recited in  claim 2  wherein the upper platform includes a plurality of interconnected upper platform elements. 
   
   
     7. The dock as recited in  claim 1  further including a plurality of cross member connectors, each cross member connector having a cross member contact face connected to a respective one of the plurality of cross members and a primary contact face connected to a respective one of the pair of primary frame members. 
   
   
     8. The dock as recited in  claim 1  wherein the secondary axis is orthogonal to the primary axis. 
   
   
     9. The dock as recited in  claim 1  further including a floatation shell having opposing shell lateral portions, the floatation shell defining a floatation cavity, the floatation shell being attached a respective one of the plurality of cross members, the floatation shell including:
 a shell base; and 
 a pair of opposing floatation fins extending away from the shell base to define respective fin distal portions, each floatation fin disposed adjacent a respective one of the opposing shell lateral portions, each fin having a fin medial face and a fin lateral face defining a fin width therebetween, the fin width decreasing from the shell base towards the fin distal portion. 
 
   
   
     10. The dock as recited in  claim 1  wherein the primary and secondary frame members are formed of a pultruded material. 
   
   
     11. A dock comprising:
 a pair of primary frame members formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, the pair of primary frame members extending parallel to a primary axis and arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other; 
 a pair of secondary frame members formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, the pair of secondary frame members extending parallel to a secondary axis and arranged in opposed, spaced parallel relation to each other, each secondary frame member being connected to the pair of primary frame members; 
 a plurality of cross members, each cross member connected to and extending between the pair of primary frame members, each cross member including an upper platform contact face disposed within a common upper platform contact plane; and 
 a plurality of joint supports, each joint support having a primary joint face connected to one of the pair of primary frame members and a secondary joint face connected to one of the pair of secondary frame members, wherein each joint support includes a joint platform contact face disposed within the common upper platform contact plane. 
 
   
   
     12. A float system for use with a dock at least partially extending over a body of water, the dock having an upper walking portion facing away from the water and an opposing lower water-facing portion, the float system comprising:
 a floatation shell having opposing shell lateral portions, the floatation shell defining a floatation cavity, the floatation shell being disposable beneath the lower water-facing surface of the dock, the floatation shell including:
 a shell base; and 
 a pair of opposing floatation fins extending away from the shell base to define respective fin distal portions, each floatation fin disposed adjacent a respective one of the opposing shell lateral portions, each floatation fin having a fin medial face and a fin lateral face defining a fin width therebetween, the fin width decreasing from the shell base towards the fin distal portion; 
 
 wherein the floatation shell includes a pair of floatation elements collectively defining the floatation shell, each floatation element including a respective one of the pair of opposing floatation fins. 
 
   
   
     13. The float system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a buoyant element disposed within the floatation cavity for increasing the buoyancy of the floatation shell. 
   
   
     14. The float system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising an attachment flange connected to the floatation shell, the attachment flange having a plurality of fastener openings for attachment to the dock. 
   
   
     15. A float system for use with a dock at least partially extending over a body of water, the dock having an upper walking portion facing away from the water and an opposing lower water-facing portion, the float system comprising:
 a floatation shell having opposing shell lateral portions, the floatation shell defining a floatation cavity, the floatation shell being disposable beneath the lower water-facing surface of the dock, the floatation shell including:
 a shell base; 
 a pair of opposing floatation fins extending away from the shell base to define respective fin distal portions, each floatation fin disposed adjacent a respective one of the opposing shell lateral portions, each floatation fin having a fin medial face and a fin lateral face defining a fin width therebetween, the fin width decreasing from the shell base towards the fin distal portion; and 
 a plurality of press-fit engagement members extending outwardly from the shell base, the plurality of press-fit engagement members configured for press-fit engagement with the dock. 
 
 
   
   
     16. A roller for a use on a dock positioned near a piling, the roller including:
 a spring biased bracket having:
 a dock contact portion being engageable with the dock, the dock contact portion having a dock contact upper surface; and 
 a bracket sidewall having a sidewall lower edge, the sidewall lower edge and the dock contact upper surface defining a bracket angle, the spring biased bracket being moveable between a compressed position and an extended position, the bracket angle increasing as the spring biased bracket moves from the compressed position to the extended position, the spring biased bracket being biased towards the extended position; and 
 
 a wheel rotatably connected to the bracket sidewall, the wheel being engageable with the piling. 
 
   
   
     17. The roller as recited in  claim 16  wherein the bracket sidewall is integrally formed with the dock contact portion.